Engine starting device



July 4, 1950 M MlLLAN ROBINSON 2,513,364

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1946 IIIIIIIIIBEII 42 4| 2B I ,m 35 2| I 4 l6 l5 Y l7 INVENTOR.

MMlLLAN ROBINSON ATTGRQEY Patente d July '4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE STARTING DEVICE McMillan Robinson, Evanston, Ill.

Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,184

Claims. (01.123-179) {Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

This invention relates to a starting device for internal combustion enginesand, in particular, to a starter for outboard engines or the like of the type in which it is normally required that a rotary motion be impartedto the flywheel thereof by rapidly withdrawing therefrom acable which is concentrically arranged around the flywheel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism adapted to be associated with an outboard motor of the internal combustion type for providing the necessary motivating power for starting the motor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a self-starting mechanism adapted to be incorporated with and supported byan outboard motor with which it is associated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self-starting mechanism having features incorporated therein which lend themselves to manual operation thereof, should it be found necessary to do so, for providing motivating power for starting the engine with which it may be associated.

These, as well as the various other novel features and advantages of thisinvention, will become apparent from a reading of the specification and accompanying drawings of which;

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the selfstarting mechanism, and

Figure 2 is a section taken at 22 of Figure 1.

With reference to the'drawings, the starter therein illustrated comprises a flywheel II, supported on the engine shaft l2, notched drive plate I3 keyed to shaft, I2, flywheel and drive plate engaging and disengaging pin I4, electric motor I5, battery I6, and enclosure H.

The flywheel I I is cylindrical in shape and consists of a relatively heavy cap plate I8, side walls I9, and grooved friction ring 2|, secured to and encircling the inner portion of the side walls I9. To the under portion of the cap plate I8 is attached a metal block 22 within which is slidably received the engaging and disengaging pin I4. The drive plate engaging end of the pin I4 is tapered at 23 so as to facilitate engagement and disengagement with the similarly shaped notches 24 provided on the circumference of drive plate I3. At the opposite end of the pin I4 is formed a. rack 25, the teeth of which engage with those of pinion 26 mounted on shaft 21 secured to the block 22. A weight 28 projecting downward from and forming a part of the pinion 26 is adapted to be swung from a vertical to a horizontal plane as shown in dotted lines, when the centrifugal amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 2 force imposed thereon is sufficiently great due to rotation of the flywheel.

Motor I5 is adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane by virtue of the pivotal arm 29 to which it is secured by means of a suitable band 30 encircling the frame thereof. Pivotal arm 29 is secured at one end to the inside wall of enclosure IT by a pin 31 passing through a lug 32 and is adapted to be adjusted and secured in any desired position at its opposite end by virtue of the slotted lug 33 through which passes a releasable fastener 34. To the shaft of motor I5 is keyed a friction wheel 35 having a rim 36 of rubber or the like so that when the arm 29 is pivoted outward, the friction surface 36 will engage with the friction ring 2| and drive the flywheel with little or no slippage.

The electrical system as illustrated comprises a plurality of series connected storage batteries 31 the lead 38 from one post secured to one of the leads of the motor I5 and the other lead 39 electrically connected to the remaining motor lead 41 through push button type switch 42. A protective baflle plate 43 forms a chamber 44 sealed at its base within which the batteries are placed. A plurality of vibration damper rubber supports 45 for engaging the sides and bottom of the batteries are spaced and secured within the chamber 44.

The cap plate I8 is provided with a spring opposed push button 46 having a wedge shaped portion 41 adapted to engage with a similarly shaped wedge 48 which forms a portion of the pin I4. The top portion of the cap plate I8 is formed in the shape of a grooved pulley 49, the outer edge of which is recessed at 5I so that theknotted end of a rope or cable may be placed therein when the rope or cable is wrapped around the pulley for starting the motor by hand. Suitable bearings 52 and 53 insure that the shaft I2 will be free to rotate relative to the flywheel after the internal combustion engine has been started.

A cover 54 forming part of the enclosure I1, with suitable hinges 55, is adapted to be fastened in the closed position by latch 56 but may be swung back to the full open position when the engine is to be started by hand, or for inspection or maintenance purposes.

In operation the apparatus functions in essentially the following fashion:

The push button switch 42 is depressed thus furnishing current for the electric motor l5. The friction wheel 35 being in contact with the friction rim 2I causes flywheel II to rotate, and, by virtue of the centrifugal forces imposed there- 3 on, the weight 28 swings outward to a horizontal position. Inasmuch as pinion 26 engages the rack 25, th pin [4 slides radially and engages with one ,of the notches 24 on the periphery of drive plate 13. The kinetic energ of the rotating flywheel furnishes the necessary driving power for starting the engine. As soon as the speed of the engine exceeds that of the flywheel, the pin I4 is forced radially outward by reason of the sloping sides of the slot 2 5. out off at this instant and the motor and flywheel brought to rest.

In th event that the batteries become discharged so that it is necessary to start the engine I manually, the pivotal lever is moved to the right to separate the friction wheel from the rim, the cover 54 is raised to the top position, a rope or cable wrapped around the pulley '49, the button 46 depressed so as to cause pin it to engage one of the notches '24 of the drive plate i3 and the flywheel quickly rotated byrapidly withdrawing the cable. As noted previously, the pin it is forced radially outwardly when the engine is brought up to speed, thus disengaging the flywheel from the drive plate.

' It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of the invention and that various other changes in construction and proportion as well as arrangement of the elements thereof may be mad within the Scope of the appended claims without sacrificing any. or the advantages of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government .of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. Starting apparatus for engaging with the shaft of an internal combustion engine with which it is arranged to operate comprising a flywheel, a drive plate on the shaft of said engine, movable means slideably mounted in a housing carried by said flywheel and Said drive plate for engaging and disengaging said flywheel, driving means for rotating said flywheel, and means for shifting said iast-mentioned means into and out of driving relationship with said flywheel.

2. Starting apparatus for engaging with the shaft of an internal combustion engine with which it isassociated comprising a flywheel, frictio'nally engageable driving means for rotating said flywheel, means for shifting said last-mentioned means into and out of driving relationship with said flywheel, said means including a drive plate secured to said shaft, movable means associated with said flywheel for engaging with and disen- Electric current is gaging said flywheel from said drive plate and means for actuating said movable means.

3. Starting apparatus for engaging with the shaft of an internal combustion engine with which is it associated comprising a flywheel, driving means for rotating said flywheel, means for shifting said last-mentioned means into and out of driving relationship with said flywheel, a notched drive plate mounted on said shaft, 2. pin slidably secured to said flywheel, a weight adjacent said pin and pivotally secured to said flywheel, and a rack and pinion interposed between said weight and said pin adapted to impose an inward motion on said pin for engaging with a notch in said drive plate when said weight swings outward due to rotation of said flywheel.

4. Starting apparatus for engaging with the shaft of an internal combustion engine with which it is associated, comprising a flywheel, driving means for rotating said flywheel, means for shifting said last-mentioned means into and out of driving relationship with said flywheel, a notched drive plate secured'to said shaft, a pin movably' secured to said'flywheel, a weight, a rack and pinion interposed between said weight and saidpin adapted to impose an inward motion on said pintor engaging with a notch of said drive plate when said weight swings outward due to rotation of said flywheel.

5. Starting apparatus for engaging with the shaft of an internal combustion engine with which it is associated comprising a flywheel, a notched drive plate secured to said shaft, a pin movably secured to said flywheel adapted to be moved manually into. engagement with a notch of said base plate for temporarily locking together said flywheel and said drive plate, the shape of the pin end and notched surface being su-chas to cause ejection of the pin from said notch when the shaft overruns said flywheel, and means mounted on said flywheel adapted to receive a cable tobe quickly withdrawn manually therefrom for rapidly accelerating said flywheel.

MCMILLAN ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 6, 19.19 

